The Hair Straightener

I wrote before about my work travl to Minnesota, but I did not write about my trip to the Mall of America.

I went there with the intent of picking up some things to take home for the kids and having a nice dinner.  One of my agents had reccoemended a good place to dine, so I thought I'd take her reccomendation for supper while I was there. 

I arrived and walked around the first floor of the mall, bought a few things and enjoyed just looking around.  I found the reccomended restuant, Tucci Benucch, and took a seat on the patio.  She had reccomended their wine and pizza, so I ordered two appetizers for my meal, a pizza and some bruschetta and a glass of wine. 

I ate and drank, called home, ordered a second glass of wine and people watched.

After dinner I decided to try to finish walking hte Mall.  I wanted to see all there was to offer and I was in no hurry to get back to my empty hotel room.  (I was to the Mall of America once before on a family vacation about 10 years ago, but didn't remember much of the trip.) 

Walking around the second floor, I think, maybe it was the third, it's all a little fuzzy, a gentelmen handed me a small wet wipe looking thing and complimented my hair.  Who doesn't love a compliment!  He asked me a few questions about the products I use on my hair, and was shocked when my only response was shampoo. 

The next thing I know he has me sitting in his stylist chair with a straightener in my hair heating up my face and telling me how I really need this product to make my hair look great. 

Clearly the second glass of wine was a mistake

They day after I got home, after the kids were in bed, I told Keith about it. Who immediately grabbed the straightner looked i up on Amazon and found it for $70. He didn't appreciate my comment about saving $100 when he orginally tried to sell it to me at $200!

I'm using it daily and actually really liking it. It makes having short hair much more manageable. (Speaking of, I need write about my short hair!)

Work Travel in Minnesota

The end of January, I had to travel to Minnesota for work.  I flew our early Wednesday morning amidst tears at leaving town without my baby for the first time.  I knew she was in the capable hands of her Daddy and out babysiters, but it didn't make it any easier to leave her!  I cried before I left, on the way to the airport and on the plane.  Although, I have to say the rough flight we had may have contributed to some of those tears as I held tightly to my armrest!

Upon arrival in Minnesota we started our day or meetings; I was spending that first day with 2 of my co-workers.  My travel for work is usually a day of meetings with agencies in various parts of the state, so we travel to an office, stay for an hour, drive and hour, visit another office for an hour and so on; this made pumping quite a challenge.  I spend a lot of time in various public bathrooms in restaurants and office buildings.  We have 4 different meetings that first day.  I was exhausted by the end of the day.  I got up about 4 a.m. to leave by house by 5:00 for my 7:30 flight.  When I get to Minnesota, that turns into having been awake at 3:00 their time and not getting back to our hotel from out dinner meeting until after 9:00 makes for a very long day.  I'm usually prepared for an exhausing first day when I travel to Minnesota. 

After booking the trip I had some appointment cancellations and changes of schedule for Thrusday that left me with a free afternoon and evening.  After trying reperatedly to change my flight or find another flight home for a reasonable price, I gave up and stayed until my regularly scheduled flight left Friday morning.  My airline wanted $550 for me to move to a Thursday afternoon flight.  I could have bought a new ticket for about $400; so why on earth wouldn't I just do that!?  After looking for flights, I just couldn't find one cheap enough to justify the cost; not to mention Keith was not a fan of me spending the extra money to come home early because they were fine at home. 

They were fine; mom wasn't so much!

To pass the afternoon and evening, I went to the Mall of America.  My hotel was just across the street and they offered a shuttle service to and from the hotel.  That's when Keith decided maybe he should have let me buy the flight home...

Christmas Eve 2012

Elinore's First Bechtel Family Christmas

Casey the Dog, Papa Lowell, Elinore, Caleb & Caden

Elinore, Caleb & Caden

Mommy & Elinore

Brother, His Girlfriend & His Dog

Baptism

Caden & Caleb

Elinore & Mommy

Keith, Caden, Elinore, Mommy & Caleb

January 27, surrounded by our family and church family, our kids were baptized in our church.

Your family in attendance included:

Grandparents: Grandma Barb, Grandma Nancy & Papa Lowell

Aunts & Uncles: Uncle Cory, Uncle Brent & Aunt Kate

Cousins: Trent

Great Aunt & Great Uncle: Aunt Lind & Uncle Donnie

1st Cousin Once Removed: Matt

It was simple, beautiful and full of love. 

Giving

Caden and Caleb both have very giving hearts.  I'm doing my best to keep that desire alive in those boys.  I accept their gifts of toys, key chains, drawings, stuffed animals, goodie bags and anything else their creative minds come up with to give.  It's nearly guaranteed that if anyone comes to visit our house, they will send you home with a gift from them.  Keith, myself and their grandma's are the most frequent recipients of their gifts, but it has expanded beyond that. 

They are so excited when they can take things in for their class.  They have started asking to take things to certain children in the babysitters.  I do have a rule that if they're going to take someone a gift to school or the sitters, they have to have enough for everyone. 

I try to allow them to share and give as much as I can, and I hope they never loose this desire to share and give. 

I love that we are raising boys with such giving, loving hearts. 

Girlfriends

Late last November-ish, we learned of Caden's girlfriend.  Caden had been spending his recess time playing with Ashley.  Caleb was the first to tell us Caden had a girlfriend he played with regularly at school. 

In January when school started back up Caden came home very excited that they got new seats in his classroom and Ashley sits next to him now! 

Shortly after the beginning of the year, Caleb was complaining on night that Caden never plays with him at recess.  Keith talked to Caden and told him he needed to spend some time playing with Caleb at recess too.  Keith left the room and I continued our bedtime routine, but was surprised to find Caden hiding under his pillow crying.  Turns out Caden was so upset because if he has to play with Caleb at recess, he "*whimper, whimper* wouldn't be able *whimper, whimper* to play with *whimper, whimper* Ashley!"  He wants to play with Ashley, and according to Caden, she's the boss of them. 


We've been hearing less about her in the last month, but I learned she's also a twin!  Ashley's twin brother is in his kindergarten class too. 

My dear kindergarten boy, you are smitten!

Baby Food

The weekend after Elinore turned 6 months old we introduced her to her first solid foods, sweet potatoes!  She did very well and really liked them!

Peas on the other hand, Elinroe was not nearly as fond of in teh beginning.  She's since grown to enjoy them too over the course of the last month and a half!

 

She's continued to be a good eater and if you're not careful she'll grab the spoon!  We now give Elinore her own spoon to play with during meals while we use one to feed her.